01/25/2026

I break down the reported Belgorod blackout: what was hit, why this target matters, and how Ukraine appears to be shaping deterrence by mirroring Russia’s own “lights-out” strategy. If Russia can’t reliably protect critical infrastructure inside its border regions, that changes the risk calculus—politically, militarily, and economically—especially in winter. We’ll separate verified claims from propaganda, track what officials said on both sides, and explain what this signals about the next phase of escalation pressure.

Source: Professor Gerdes Explains 🇺🇦